Archive for craft

… exactly what I’ve been the last few weeks. Unfortunately, not many pics to show you what I’ve done. Everything I’ve made recently I’ve finished by the skin of my teeth so no time to take photos but hopefully I can take some retrospectively.

Firstly, I finished the costumes for the class assembly. I have to say I was very pleased with the way they came out although the bonnets were a little on the “snug” side. If I made them again for the same age child I think I would use narrower seam allowances. I would definitely recommend the pattern though – nice and easy to use and the bonnets look gorgeous. I’m pretty certain Jen took some pictures of the assembly so hopefully I’ll be able to post some in September when we go back to school.

I’ve also had a go at upcycling “The practice of taking something that is disposable and transforming it into something of greater use and value”. There was a great project to upcycle an old pair of jeans into a skirt in Issue 15 of “Sew Hip” . I have to admit, I’m not blessed with great ideas so previous attempts at refashioning clothes have been rather, well – let’s not beat about the bush, pathetic. But following Tracy Cushing’s clear instructions – voila!

I added a little (very basic) embroidery i.e. cross stitch, blanket stitch & running stitch. The last time I used those stitches I was 10 and making a Sampler Pencil Case out of binca (remember that?) in school. I also added some little mother of pearl buttons that I’d bought for another “upcycling” project that never really happened. I’m quite pleased with the result, especially as the jeans were so badly torn at the thigh (“curvy” thighs – jeans always split there with me) that I was going to bin them.

I’ve given my crochet hooks an airing for the first time in about 8 years. My friend recently gave birth to a baby boy so I crochet him a little jacket and beret. I used a pattern from Sirdar book 269 “Babies in Crochet”. It’s the only “proper” boys pattern I’ve ever managed to find. I want a pic of him wearing it and I’ll post that as soon as I get one.

And lastly (but not leastly) I’ve been making end of term gifts for some of the girls in work. I’ve dabbled occasionally in jewellery-making so made a few pairs of earrings (no pics – sorry) and also some matching bracelets (piccies above – sorry they’re a bit pants, photography’s hubby’s specialist area but he’s in work). I saw something very similar in a local gallery for an absolutely extortionate price and thought “I can do that”. So I did. It’s a bit tough on the fingers but the results are worth it.

Ok, I’ve finished playing the drama queen over my linen dress. I’m still not 100% happy with it but I’ve had lots of lovely and helpful comments about it (http://www.thesewingforum.co.uk/photoplog/index.php?n=3313 and here of course – thank you everyone) so I don’t feel quite as rubbish about it as I did.

Onwards to my next project.

Jen and Yvonne (teachers in our Year 1 class) have asked me if I’d make two costumes for their class assembly next month. The children are going to perform the story of “Mary Jones and her Bible” so I need to make a costume for Mary and her mother. The story takes place in 1800 so I’m looking forward to making my first “historical” costumes. I’m using Simplicity 3725 – view B for Mary and view B but with view A’s bonnet for her mother.

The story of Mary Jones and her Bible is the true story of a poor young Welsh girl who saved for six years and then had to walk barefoot the 25 miles to Bala to buy her very own Welsh Bible. Wikepedia gives the factual details of the story but I prefer this version – I can remember being told this version of the story as a little girl in my own school assembly.

I’ve just ordered the fabric from Online-fabrics.co.uk – they’ve got a really good offer on crepe at the moment – ideal for the dresses. I’m itching to get started!

For those of you with Sky tv, Channel 171 “MyChannel” is currently showing a series called “Talking Threads” which is a series of half-hourly shows looking at sewing; quilting; silk painting etc. Unfortunately, when you look at the on-screen tv guide the shows come up under the heading “Country Channel” which, from what I can see, also seems to cover programmes such as “100 ways to brush your horse” or “My favourite shovel” and other such nonsense (my apologies to those of you out there who actually do have a favourite shovel).

Sorry, I’m rambling now. Anyway, the above link takes you directly to the Talking Threads web page where you can watch and download each episode from the series without having to wade through the hours of dross served up on the actual channel.

I made my bag from Issue 14 of “Sew Hip” as promised. It was really easy to make and I want to make lots more. In fact, Chloe is making one for herself too so I’ll post a pic of that when it’s finished.

I didn’t waste the leftovers either – I made this from the 25cm scrap that was left.

I found the pattern on http://www.knitting-and.com/embroidery/skullbaggy.htm . I did adapt it a little bit as I used just the one piece and stitched up the sides. Chloe is going to use it to keep her trainers in for school (maybe she’ll manage to come home with both shoes this time!).

It’s been weeks and weeks since I blogged last – we’re only just back online.

I have to say it’s not been a brilliant start to the New Year – just before Christmas our poor house was diagnosed with dry rot. It’s an absolutely horrible fungus thing that spreads like crazy and the treatment is pretty radical. So basically, since Christmas we’ve been living on a building site while the builders hacked off infected plaster, ripped up floors and pulled out windows. Anything of value has had to be packed in polythene to stop the phenomenal amount of dust getting into it. So I’ve had no computer and no sewing machines for weeks!

The good new is the work is all finished bar the decorating. The bad news is that it’s cost us a fortune (many thousands!) so hubby and I are thinking up ways of making extra cash. Think I need to pull my finger out and start doing a few craft fairs …..

Anyway – frogs. Check out this really fab fabric. I picked it up in Butterfly Fabrics in Cardiff yesterday.

I’m going to make the bag in Issue 14 of Sew Hip magazine. It looks nice and roomy, which is good because I tend to carry half a ton of junk round with me. I’ll get hubby to take a pic of it when it’s finished.